2auroraDoubleGourd

Christopher Spitzmiller

I’ve been eying a number of gourd lamps like the ones above for my living room. I love this style of lamp not just for the beauty of its shape but for the symbolism that the gourd represents. The gourd is most commonly recognized as a symbol of longevity and good fortune, stemming from ancient eastern traditions where the gourd was once used as a drinking vessel. These bottle gourds were carved from a gourd fruit which is thick-skinned, oddly shaped and similar in nature to a squash or a pumpkin.

Gourdfruit

The fruits were often dried and then hallowed out into a vessel used to store and drink water or rice wine. In Taoist and Budhist traditions, it was believed that the gourd was filled with the nectar of longevity and health which was consumed by the Gods. In Feng Shui, it is believed that the gourd, when placed in one’s home, will bring longevity and good luck into the lives of its inhabitants. It’s no wonder why we’ve seen gourd shaped lamps used in interiors for so long! Here are some of the gourd lamps that I’m obsessed with right now:

2smallSingleGourd
Lindsay Single Gourd Lamp
2mediumThreeBall

Medium Three Ball Lamp
AlexanderWebsite 1stoutGourd
Left: Alexander Lamp / Right:Stout Double Gourd Lamp

2ridgedSingleGourd

Ridged Single Gourd Lamp

If money were no object I’d buy a pair of Chritopher Spitzmiller’s beautifully handcrafted lamps which range in price from $650-$2250 per lamp. I’d take any of the above!

Img43n

These Porcelain Urn lamps from Williams-Sonoma Home could work nicely but are still a bit pricey at $495.

Cha8613cc_np Cha8618cc_np

Left: Small Gourd Form Lamp / Right: Large Baluster Form Vase Lamp

Cha8616i_np CHA8628IC-NP
Left: Medium Mokko Form Lamp / Right: Mini Fang Gourd Lamp

These options above from Circa Lighting are all beautiful and much more reasonably priced. The ones that you see here range from $210-$420. Notice a trend in the colors I’m gravitating toward?

 

Picture 6 Picture 7

Robert Abbey Double Gourd Lamp

More-rob-310x-324x
Robert Abbey Triple Gourd Lam

These gourd lamps from Robert Abbey are least expensive and most widely accessible selling at mass lighting retailers such as Lamps Plus and even Macy’s. Here in New York, they’re currently on sale at Gracious Home…I’m a sucker for a sale…so the Robert Abbey Double Gourd lamp shown here might be the winner. Stay tuned! And now that you’ve had a little history lesson on gourds and have seen my favorite picks, here’s a look at more beautiful gourd lamps in context.

Paley2

Albert Hadley. Photo via StyleCourt

30-xl

My all-time favorite room by Miles Redd

Picture 12

 

Picture 66

Schuyler Samperton

Tobifairley

Tobi Fairley

Tobifairley3

6-joel-woodard-xlg-71053599

Joel Woodard for Lichten Craig Architects at this year’s Kip’s Bay Decorator Show House. Photo via House Beautiful

11 Comments

  1. Spitzmiller’s lamps are all absolutely gorgeous! Have you ever seen how they are made?

    I have seen all of those Circa lamps in person and they are quite nice. You definitely can’t beat the quality for the money! Let us know what you pick!

  2. Hi there,

    Thanks for the great post on lamps. They have been a bit of stumbling block in two of my rooms – my bedroom and study – as well. Want to pass along a tip – I found two great single gourd lamps with drum style shades at HomeGoods for $40 each. If you are not familiar with the store, they are the home goods division of Marshalls and TJ Maxx. Bot sure if they have a store in Manhattan, but I visited the one in Paramus, NJ. Definitely worth a stop with your list in hand, if you are in NJ. Good luck and look forward to seeing your improvements.

  3. Style&Grace

    I just chose the robert abbey triple gourd lamp for my bedroom. I think they are fantastic for the price. Go for that!

  4. I am in love with these lamps! I would gladly take one or two in any color!!!

  5. i, too, am obsessed with the gourd style lamp! target carries one….i can’t figure out if i like it or not… it seems like the proportions are just a smidge “off”? i’ve been waiting for the williams-sonoma vase lamp to go on sale, because i think it’s shape is timeless and perfectly proportioned. perhaps it will never go on sale, though, since it is so classic? i’m currently trying out a restoration hardware crystal lamp which was “clearance.” ‘salright, but it’s no gourd lamp.

  6. I’ve being researching about lamps because I need to buy one, and I’ve found your post very helpful 🙂 . I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog!

  7. Pingback: My New Table lamps | So Haute

  8. Marjorie Silverman

    You should check out Shades of Light.com. They also have a good selection of gourd lamps and they’re very reasonably priced.